Nippon Shokubai gets approval to restart Himeji AA, polymer plants

27 June 2013 12:12[Source: ICIS news]

TOKYO (ICIS)--Japanese chemical producer Nippon Shokubai has received government approval to restart part of its acrylic acid (AA), super absorbent polymer (SAP) and water-soluble polymer plants at its Himeji site, the company said on Thursday.

The company had received an order from the government to suspend operations of these plants, along with other plants, following an explosion at the site in October 2012.

The suspension order for a total of 16 facilities at Himeji, including part of the AA, SAP and water-soluble polymer plants was lifted on Thursday, the company said in a statement.

The company, however, did not mention specific capacities of these plants or exact dates for restart, but said that the AA plant to be resumed was different from the AA facility which was on fire directly following the explosion.